Spring frog rail



J. H. HARDY.

SPRING FROG RAIL.

APPLICATION man oc.1o,1921.

atentd Aug. 8,

2 SHEETS-SHEE L H. HARDY.

SPRING FROG RAIL. APPLICATION FILED ocT. Io, |921.

l ,4&2 52258 Patented'Aug. 8, E922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMES 'HARRIS HARDY, OF CRAWFRD, MISSISSPPI.

SPRING- FRGGr RAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Auge 1922.

Application filed Dctober 10, 1921. Serial No. 566,855.

To all fun/'wm t may concern:

Be it known that la JAMns Hansis HARDY, a resident of Crawford7 in the county of Lowndes and State of Mississippi7 and a citizenof the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Frog'Rails, of which: the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring frog rails,

the object'being to present a solid rail segment between the end of the frog and the respective rail being used, this being effected automatically by the moving of the train.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan View; n y Fig. 2 is a .detail view of the rail segments` and guard rails;

, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the guard rails;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

The numerals 1 1 represent the main track line. rlfhe numerals 2 2 represent a side track line both sets being spaced apart longitudinally and secured to the bases 3. Arranged in the space is a member 3 and extending upwardly from this member are rail segments 4 and 5 which are adapted to alternatively align with the main and side track sections as hereinafter described. EX- tending rearwardly from member 3 are rear guard rails 6 and 7 and forwardly therefrom and integral therewith are similar guard rails 8 and 9 and guard rails 6 and 7 are preferably arranged between the rail sections 1 and 2 while the guard rails 8 and 9 are preferably outside of the rail sections 1 and 2. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the rail segment 5 is in alignment with the side track rail 2 2 while the rear guard rail 7 and the forward guard rail 8 bear against the rail sections 1 1. In this position tratiic is permissible upon the side rail sections 2 2 the rear guard rail 6 and forward guard rail 9 being spaced from the rails` 2-2 to permit the iianges of the wheels of the train to pass.

The rail segment 5 is preferably held in this position by the following mechanism. The numeral 10 indicates a bar pivoted as at 11 to the base 3 one end thereof being connected by a link 12 pivotally connected to the rail segment 4. The numeral 13 indicates a rod pivoted as at 14 to the base 3 the inner end of this rod being pivotally connected to the outer end of the bar 10.

Received upon the rod 13 are cup members 15 and 16 and held therebetween is a compression spring 17 a nut 18 4serving to adjust the compression on the spring 17. Asvr illustrated in Fig. 1 when the rail segmentv 5 is properly aligned with respect to the rail section,2 2 the outer end of the bar 1() is off center and is held in that position by the compression spring 1.7. p

When traflic is resumed upon the main line rails ysections 1 1 the flanges of the wheels would strike the guard rails 7 or 8 depending upon the direction of the traffic. The forcing apart of the guard rails at `one end which is in contact with the main rail at the opposite Aend acts as a lever in effecting a lateral movement centrally of the member 3 and rcauses the bar 10 to swing upon its pivot to theopposite side of the l center' line of the pivots 11V and 14 and causes the center segment 4to be drawn into alignment with the rail sections 1 1 this movement serving to draw the rail segment 5 out of alignment with rail sections 2 2 this change being effected by the flanges of the first set of wheels passing through the frog, the compression spring 17 holding the mechanism in its now operative position. Stops 20 and 21 limit the movement of the guard rails. To permit this movement the rail sections 1 and 2 are undercut as at 19 and 20 to permit suflicient movement of the member 3 to effect the desired result, the undercut portion also serving to prevent an upward movement of the movable parts.

It will thus be seen that l have provided a comparatively simple and positively new mechanism for drawing into and out of alignment the different rail sections and rail segments which serve to completely close the gap or space between the main line track Ell@ ceeded approximately half the length of member 3 toward the segment which closes the lange opening, the link 12 draws' the bar l0 past the d`ead-center7 diverts the pressure of the spring 17, in the opposite direction and thereby throwsv the member 3 against the opposite set of rails. This moves the whole member 3 a greater dis.

,means connected to the respective railk segments andparallel with the track-rail and side track-rail, whereby the rail segment of the unused trackis moved laterally by the movingftrain.` f

2. A rail frog comprising a frog point, a track-rail, a side track-rail, rail segments interposed vbetween the frog rail point and the end of the track and side track-rails, guard"` rails extending forwardly and rearwardly of the respective `rail segments, means for `normally holding one of the rail segments in alignment with its respective rail section,lsa1d means adapted to be `actuated by the guard` railI sections nwhen `the latter areengaged by the wheels of the movy ing train, whereby the rail segmentof the i used track-rail may be 'moved laterally.

A frog rail comprising a frog point, a main track-rail, a sidetraclcrail, rail segments interposed between the frog point andthe ends of the main track' andv side track-rails, guard rails Aextending forwardly and rearwardly from the rail Asegments being arranged parallel with the main and side' track-rails, and resilient means comprising a pivoted bar pivotally connectedat one end to therailv segments and provided with spring tensioning means for alternately holding one ofthe rail segments in its aligned position.

Il. A rail frog comprising a frogfpoint,

track-rails', side traclit-rails5 guard rails parallel with the track and. side: 'trackrails, rail segments carried by the guard rails and interposed betw'een'the frog' lrail--pointr y and the ends of theV track. and vsidei track-lrai'ls, means Compl'rising a--pivotedf bar' connected at'oneend of the rail s'egmendjand resilient means normally off center foralternately holding one of thel rail segments in.

its aligned positi'on,"said means adapted tobe thrownoll centeriny the opposite direction by the laterall movement o'eithertend ofthe guard rai/ltV normally against thekr track rails.

Inv testimony whereof lIi hereunto aixymy signature. n c L .JAMES HARRIS HARDY... 

